Is There a Better Value (Light) Gaming Laptop around?

moar bargains on 07/08/2023 - 12:14

Hi all,

It's time to upgrade my trusty old Lenovo Thinkpad, and I'd like to get something with a decent reasonable budget graphics card. I'm upgrading from a GeForce 950M, so "better than that" is the objective, and simply trying to get as much better as I can afford.

Budget is $1500. I'm under no illusions about how well that will go for the cutting edge, but I'm ok with that.

I've been looking at this Lenovo LOQ and my question is: is there anything better within that budget range?
This is the "next model up" but is a 4050 worth another $200 in terms of performance? Or there's an equivalent with Ryzen5 7640HS Processor. I realise the screen is higher res as well, but it will be plugged into an external monitor, so that's not actually a selling point to me.

A couple of other notes:
- I intend to upgrade storage, ideally through a second drive slot, but boot drive if necessary as well. Ideally this upgrade will come within the $1500 budget too, but there's a little wiggle room there.
- Don't want to go bigger than this form factor.
- I've considered a desktop, but at this stage prefer laptop.

Thanks!

Computing Computer Gaming Laptop Laptop

Comments

  • bejahi on 07/08/2023 - 13:01
    +2

    Can you explain the logic behind paying more for a slower (mobile CPU/GPU), heat-constricted device, including a screen that you won't use, so that you can sit it on a desk and plug it into an external monitor, vs just getting a (very good) $1500 desktop?

    • [Deactivated] on 07/08/2023 - 13:26
      +3

      For me personally, I have a desktop, but for light RPG as well as grindy games like WoW or Diablo I'd rather play on a laptop in bed, and depending on OP's usage having the flexibility of plugging it in when you want to but still can move around can be worth the performance loss. Especially as the current gen laptop CPU are quite close to their desktop counterpart in gaming performance, and lower end laptop GPU like the the 4060 is in ballpark performance with the desktop version

      • freefall101 on 07/08/2023 - 13:55
        +2

        My wrists just screamed out in pain at gaming in bed on a laptop (unless you're using a controller). While we're talking 15" 1080p vs 7" 720p, I would have thought a steam deck would be the better option for that.

        • [Deactivated] on 07/08/2023 - 14:07

          Nah, keyboard and mouse, but I'm used to it. Only thing I'd use a controller for is JRPGs. A steam deck is nice for console type games, but most console-type games I'd rather just sit in front of my PC anyway or plugged into the TV

      • bejahi on 07/08/2023 - 14:06
        +1

        Fair enough. I made the switch after years of "gaming laptops" with a desktop dock, to an actual gaming desktop and a nice, lightweight business laptop. You spend the laptop money on nice keyboard/trackpad/screen/battery instead of CPU/GPU, and seperately have a vastly superior gaming desktop. Both devices fit for purpose instead of being a giant compromise.

        • [Deactivated] on 07/08/2023 - 14:10
          +2

          Its more about convenience for long grind sessions. And with Zen 4 Phoenix and the low end 4050/4060 having near-desktop performance at low TDP you can easily get both thin and light and powerful enough for light gaming. Even with gaming there's a huge difference between the AAA type players and the esport/MMO players, and they (obviously) have different system requirements.

          And of course if you need mobility out of your high performance system, then a thin and light business laptop is not so useful.

    • Gdsamp on 07/08/2023 - 13:27
      +1

      Sometimes you need to usem computer away from desk …

      • bejahi on 07/08/2023 - 14:02

        and play games on it?

        • Gdsamp on 07/08/2023 - 14:12
          +1

          A computer is not just for gaming sometimes you gotta use it in other locations

          There are more portable computers than the one OP listed
          There are computers better for games than the one OP listed

          For the Price OP will have a reasonably capable and portable computer: budget may not allow for two computers that do both

          • moar bargains on 07/08/2023 - 14:25
            +1

            @Gdsamp: Yes, this is exactly my position. I could get a more capable desktop, but then it's not portable for the odd occasion when we want that. I could get a more portable device, but if I can't play anything more than solitaire that's a deal breaker, but don't want two devices.

    • moar bargains on 07/08/2023 - 14:23
      +1

      I have thought long and hard about this. I realistically don't have the budget to be able to afford two devices (e.g. a $500 laptop is going to be insufferable), so it's either one or the other.
      Personally I would probably prefer a desktop, because of what you've just said and the longevity that it has by upgradability, but we take the laptop when we travel. Admittedly that's not often, but I would need to convince the wife that there is a reliable alternative for streaming media while travelling, that she can use if needed without me, and is not going to take me an hour poking around with "maybe I need to change this setting".

      • [Deactivated] on 07/08/2023 - 14:27
        +2

        $500 laptop is going to be insufferable

        To be honest for general browsing and media consumption use, a $500 refurb flagship business laptop (i.e. T480) still does the job well, easy to service and built like a tank. If you don't need gaming performance on the go, $1k on a nice desktop and $500 on a laptop is definitely preferable.

        • moar bargains on 07/08/2023 - 14:36

          That's an interesting thought. I currently have a Thinkpad E570 which is 6.5 years old. It's onto its second battery which doesn't last very long either now, and the wifi is playing up, but otherwise does the job, which is why I have kept it so long. Was planning on refurbing and selling it, but I may be able to sort out the wifi, and just keep the old girl as the portable for travel.

          • [Deactivated] on 07/08/2023 - 14:37
            +1

            @moar bargains: Wifi card probably croaked from the heat over the years, I've had that happened a few times, especially with cheaper Realtek/Broadcom cards. Get a cheap AX200 or even 9260 off eBay and it should be fine.

            • moar bargains on 07/08/2023 - 14:38

              @[Deactivated]: Yeah that's what I expected, but because it's the family "daily driver" I haven't had the chance to look into it, and just plugged in the eth cable.

              • [Deactivated] on 07/08/2023 - 14:39
                +1

                @moar bargains: Although do keep in mind that Lenovo used to have a wifi whitelist, so make sure that its in the clear, or if its not you got a compatible card or flash a hacked BIOS first.

          • bejahi on 07/08/2023 - 14:40
            +1

            @moar bargains: For what you just described, why not something like
            https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/790239

            and then something like
            https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/789412

            Both nice devices and way better for gaming/portable streaming media respectively.

      • Sinnerator on 08/08/2023 - 08:46

        you won't notice any difference on a refurb gen 8 i5 laptop ($300-$400) compared to a new i7 ($1200) one for everyday tasks

  • [Deactivated] on 07/08/2023 - 13:28

    The Legion Slim 5 (4060/Zen 4) is ~1600 when the 13% cashback was active.

  • [Deactivated] on 07/08/2023 - 22:37
    +1

    I bought one of these 2 weeks ago when it was only $1600 for some reason. The build quality is exceptional, much better than dell and alienware, and I'd imagine miles ahead of a lenovo. I'd recommend searching for a good deal on a tuf laptop, ASUS is probably the only brand I will buy in the future.

  • cheesecactus on 07/08/2023 - 23:52
    +1

    https://www.dell.com/en-au/shop/dell-laptops/vostro-7620-lap…

    Definitely lighter.

    The lenovo might perform better with the beefier cooling. Something to research.

    Not sure how the 3050 Ti 4gb stacks up to the 3050 6gb.

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